Santa Clara delivers tamales, lighted parade

(Press Staff Photo by C.P. Thompson)The first-place float heads down Bayard Street during the fifth annual Santa Clara Lighted Christmas Parade on Saturday. The event featured 24 floats and made its way past Fort Bayard Medical Center and down Bayard Street.

Cold temperatures and high winds didn’t stop Santa Clara from hosting two events Saturday, with hundreds coming out for the return of the Tamal Fiesta y Más and the village’s fifth annual Lighted Christmas Parade.

Folks came bundled up in their coats, gloves and beanies to Bayard Street on Saturday morning for the Tamal Fiesta. The event had previously been held in Silver City and organized by the Southwest New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce. After a year off in 2017, Santa Clara hosted this year’s Tamal Fiesta.

There were six vendors that sold tamales and other Mexican food to keep the crowd warm. Abigail Perez said this was her first time selling in the fiesta.

“We saw a post on Facebook,” said Perez, after getting a break from the busy crowd. “My mom has been doing tamales for a while.”

She said the weather wasn’t great, but it was still worth coming to the fiesta.

Next to them, Paulo Veltri and a couple other people were cooking up frybread and different types of tacos. Veltri said they have participated in the fiesta since it started in Silver City.

“I like that we have different events in the county,” he said. “It was been a steady crowd, which is a good sign. We enjoy doing this.”

Silver City residents Teri Hruska and Bill Bailey had been to the Tamal Fiesta before and were disappointed when it wasn’t put on last year.

“I am glad someone is doing it,” Hruska said.

Bailey said this year’s tamales were delicious.

“It’s fun to come here and see Santa Clara,” he said while digging into his tamal. “They need to have the visitors. It is a good turnout, with lots of families and kids.”

Locals weren’t the only ones to show up for the fiesta. Wyoming residents Laurie and Jeff Degenhart, who have a home in the area, said a friend from Silver City recommended the event. Both were impressed with the food and said they would come back to the fiesta again.

“I am going to find one more tamale,” Laurie said.

After digging into the food, folks burned off calories by visiting the vendors in the mercados and along Bayard Street. Clothing, Christmas ornaments and scented candles or jars were among the items being sold. In front of the Village Hall, the Illusion Band played music, while Santa Claus took pictures with kids and families. Ruidoso’s Moose Caboose Express, a trackless train, gave children a ride around the street.

Village Clerk Sheila Hudman said around 500 people were estimated to have attended, and all the vendors ran out of tamales. Santa Clara Mayor Richard Bauch said he would like to host the fiesta again next year.

“We had a lot of people show up and the vendors did well,” he said. “It was a big success. We thought of moving it to September, but it’s a Christmas thing. We will probably do it the same time [next year]. The tamales were spicy — spicy for me. My wife bought a whole bunch.”

Following the Tamal Fiesta y Más, another event took place on Bayard Street — the village’s Lighted Christmas Parade. This year there were 24 floats, which was one fewer than in 2017. Bauch and Village Trustee Rocky Hildebrand, who was dressed as Santa Claus, led the floats past Fort Bayard Medical Center and Bataan Park, and down Bayard Street.

Mayor Bauch originally began the parade for the patients at the hospital.

“A lot of them can’t get out and go to events,” he said. “The patients were waving, and that was a thrill for me.”

Entrants included the Santa Clara Fire Department’s firetruck, the Grant County Democratic Party, High Desert Humane Society and a number of UTV riders.

The Palomarez and Anaya families took first place, for the fourth year in a row. Their float included several Christmas inflatables, lights and a sign that read “Feliz Navidad,” while family members waved from the back.

“We like to be involved with the community and it helps families come together,” said Lorenzo Anaya. “It is fun.”

All participants get a certificate, and they can stop by the Village Hall to pick them up or call 537-2443 to have them mailed.

Josie Peru said she has been coming to the parade since it started. This year, she brought her grandchildren.

“It was good,” Peru said. “When we see the parades, it gives us that Christmas feeling.”